Naughty & Nice

You decide which is which!

Two Months!

It's not as boring as all this really...

There's lounging for photo shoots....

...snuggling with dad...

...napping...

...more napping...

...smiling...

...swinging (with stylish new cap)...

...and overall melting mama's heart.

We're having a great time with our new little bundle. We visit the doc on the 10th, so I'll have more of an update then. I'm guessing 16 pounds. Max is a sweet little boy and so alert. I have to remind myself that he is still an infant, you still have to support his neck a little, he still cries like an infant, but he's so big that it's easy even for me, to think of him as older then he is...

He is smiling so much and coo-ing, it's so fun to watch!

I've dusted off my Montessori books (Montessori from the Start and How to Rise an Amazing Child the Montessori Way) and we're working on a few sensory games. I hold a small soft toy on a string over him and he bats at it with his little fist, so cute. I also make sure I am describing things to him...when we change a diaper I wash his hands with a wipe (cloth of course) and we talk about it being soft, warm, wet... I don't have a swatch collection of different textures, but I will, (think Pat the Bunny without the book.) So for now we make due with what we've got, which is what both of the Montessori books I mentioned are about!

***Update: 14.3# and 24.5 inches long!

Riddle me this...

...how does a 2 month old baby get dirt under his nails? Is he sneeking outside to play in the dirt?

Gratitude

Spanky had his pick of prizes and he chose a crown for his brother, 'the king of babies.'

Digger said I was mean for taking this picture, but seriously, how could I resist?

And the little faker was 'sleeping', but the evidence shows otherwise...

Mr. Innocent???

or Talent Show ham???
I'm thankful for my two characters!
They add spice to my life!

Little Brothers Keeper

I can't believe these pictures (not to mention my baby) are almost 6 weeks old. What I can believe is the love my big boy has for his first sibling. He sneaks kisses when he thinks I'm not looking. He tells me he wants to keep his little Max forever. He protects his baby from imaginary monsters when he plays. He decodes every cry and coo for his clueless parents.

I've spent many a moment (and I'm sure I'll spend many more) fretting over if I am doing a good job as The Mom. Am I teaching all that I should? Watching these two boys over the last few weeks has shown me that I am the one learning from them. They are such good little teachers, too.

Child Care

I am happy to announce that I have a full time spot for a child 12 mo. or older opening up in two weeks! If you know someone looking for child care in my area, please let them know. I can be reached at mishaleestrunk@yahoo.com

One month!

My sweet baby boy is one month old! He's so alert. He's wearing 3-9 month size clothes. His daddy blessed him on the first of the month at church. He's met a lot of his family and close family friends already. He's had three professional photo shoots! His hair has lightened up a little, darn it! His eyes are still a smokey blue. He loves bath time! He smiles and has a little chuckle thing he does in his sleep that is too sweet~it looks like angels are whispering in his ears.

Here's how we're doing:

Nursing>>> Since day one, little Max has been a pro nurser. I am not the most coordinated Mama on the planet, but I am getting better at breastfeeding in public without giving anyone a free show. And most important, our boy is gaining weight (almost to 12#) and thriving! (I do love my Baby Bond covers and the coupon for $10 off each cover you order is still good, the code is MLS. More on these and a picture soon.)

Sleep>>>I can't complain. We are co-sleeping at night and I hear his little hints that he's hungry before he has a chance to get worked up and start crying. Plus we've been using disposable diapers at night. He hates feeling wet and in cloth he had to be changed 2-3 times a night, which woke us all up. We will remedy this with cloth one size pocket diapers soon.

Diapers>>>I'll admit he hasn't been a totally cloth diapered baby thus far, see 'sleep'. My sweet little XS fitteds I made...never fit. So sad. The smalls, barely fit and probably wont next week. But I have plenty of prefolds, just not a ton of covers. People who say you only need 1-2 covers a day are full of it. All in all, my opinion is that cloth diapering is almost as easy as paper diapering and the benefits make it well worth it. And a cloth diapered tush is so much cuter!

Recovery>>>As we were taken to our room after delivery, I told my husband to remind me of the pain next time I got baby fever. I said I could be done, two was good for me. Now a month later I'm thinking...I could have another one. I haven't forgotten the pain of pushing or the monster hemorrhoids that made me cry, but is it all worth it? Yes. Totally. 100% The headaches are back and being without them for 18 months of my life has been worth it too.

Blues>>>My baby blues were never ending after Spanky was born. I thought I would never get over it and then I found out about my thyroid issues. So if it's that my thyroid is under control or I've had more support at the right time or whatever, I am thankful that the weepiness really only lasted a couple of weeks.

Work>>>I tend little ones in my home. I have a 4 month old daycare girl and two toddlers. I don't know how mothers of multiples do it 24-7. I'll leave it at that.

Family>>>Spanky is such an amazing big brother. Baby Max is a really good baby. Digger is a loving dad and husband. I am one blessed mama.